Fix Colorado Roads has been working for years to get lawmakers to put more money into major roads, with lots of promises and limited follow-through. This session was supposed to turn a corner, but instead interstates 25 and 70 will continue to wait, just as the motorists do in routine traffic jams.

Colorado Politics posed questions to two of Fix Colorado Road’s most high-profile leaders, Dirk Draper, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, and David May, president and CEO of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce.

Here’s what they told us.

COLORADO POLITICS: What’s your analysis of what happen during the session?

MAY: The 2017 legislative session started out with a great deal of promise. There appeared to be significant alignment among the Governor’s office and the Senate and the House. In the end, too many players tried to turn the leading bill into something it should never have been- a proverbial Christmas tree and unreasonably raising expectations of what was possible. Sadly, the measure’s ultimate failure was cast early as a result. Coloradoans want the state highway system taken care of first and foremost with a funding solution that reflects the hard work of the Governor and legislative leaders on both ends of the political spectrum. Voters want a reasonable and balanced solution; HB-1242 didn’t meet those tests.

DRAPER: Too little, too late and by too few. We were pleased that the Governor and legislative leaders recognized the problem and its necessary priority. HB 1242 was a good start and had bi-partisan sponsors, but it was not a good fit for this region. Colorado Springs already has two sales taxes dedicated to transportation infrastructure. The funding approved was not a sufficient solution for current conditions.

What are you hearing from your members about what to do next?

DRAPER: Transportation remains a top legislative priority; our members are encouraging us to continue working with lawmakers to devise a solution. There is too much at stake to give up. The fact that leaders in Senate and House crafted a bi-partisan bill was an encouraging step forward this year

MAY: Stay on this! All funding options are on the table. There are transportation projects that should have been addressed long ago and voters are becoming increasingly more impatient with the current state of affairs.

What’s the economic impact of doing nothing?

MAY: I’m not sure if there is an official economic impact analysis. Anecdotally, however, we know businesses have changed their shipping and work schedules to accommodate problems along the Northern I-25 corridor. The same is true for I-70 as well as South I-25. In an economic development framework, just as you can’t hide bad schools, you can’t hide bad highway infrastructure. Business owners take notice of this when looking to expand or relocate to Colorado.

DRAPER:These same issues (that David cites) plague I-25 south of Denver. The opportunity costs are invisible. For example, how many shipments are NOT made due to gridlock? How many employees miss productive hours at work because they are stuck in traffic? How many employers choose NOT to relocate or expand on the Front Range because of our transportation woes?

What kind of ballot initiative would your group support? Is there an attractive way to package a tax increase?

DRAPER: The need is large enough that any proposed ballot initiative will require more than a single source of funding. Our group still favors an increase in the gas tax for its direct link to users; whereas electric and hybrid vehicles should be addressed with a separate fee. We also like a specific ownership tax as an additional revenue source. Yet to make any new tax or fee attractive, the proposal must first solve a clearly defined problem and must clearly specify how the funding will be used. Voters must know what they will get in return.

MAY: We are consistent with our position; a bonding program supported by a mix of new and existing revenues. We believe the TRANS bond program needs to be renewed to jumpstart projects while the cost of money is still relatively low. We believe voters will support a transportation dedicated tax if it is reasonable and has some sort of end date. We believe the legislature should commit $100-$200 million per year from the state’s general fund. And we believe the emphasis of a state solution should stay on fixing the state highway system.

Beyond that, we are open to any viable ideas that put adequate funding onto the state highway system. Should we address the Medicaid expansion that is now consuming the state budget? Should a modest state income tax increase be among the options for new revenue? Are there other new revenue options and expense cuts that can be considered? We are willing to talk about anything.

What kind of political price is there to pay in next year’s election? And who pays it?

DRAPER: A problem of this magnitude and visibility will pose a moderate level of risk/vulnerability to almost anyone running for re-election or campaigning for another office. When voters are stuck in traffic and can’t arrive at their destinations in a reasonable timeframe, the issue stays alive even in this age of abbreviated awareness.

MAY: Voters should recognize that both political parties are responsible for fixing this problem. We also need strong leadership from our present or future Governor. Consequently, voters should listen very critically to candidates’ positions on transportation funding. If they’re not hearing reasonable and proactive proposals to solve the transportation problem, they shouldn’t vote for that candidate.

Fix Colorado Roads has been working on this for years. Is there a good reason to keep going? What light is at the end of this political tunnel?

MAY: Yes, of course! This is not a problem that will solve itself. It will require political leadership and leadership from the Colorado business community. Our job is to keep the spotlight on this problem, keep the pressure on lawmakers and the Governor, and offer constructive options and solutions until something gets done. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of leadership from the business community. They need to be saying loud and clear to elected officials that status quo on transportation is not acceptable.

DRAPER, prefacing that the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC has worked with FCR the past two legislative sessions: We need long-term, sustainable funding for state transportation; we will keep working until this problem is solved. The reasons to keep going are myriad. First, the problem isn’t solved yet. Second, progress was made this year with a bipartisan bill, showing that our legislators recognize the importance of the issue and will work together to propose solutions. Finally, public awareness of our state’s transportation woes is reaching an all-time high and each day frustrated commuters feel the pain of our substandard state transportation system.